Seasoned ConsultantHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Seasoned Consultant has a triggered ability that monitors the 'Declare Attackers' step. When you transition from your beginning of combat step to the declare attackers step, the game checks how many creatures you are sending forward. If that number is three or more, the Consultant's ability triggers and goes on the stack.

How It Resolves Step by Step

First, you must choose at least three creatures (including Seasoned Consultant itself, if desired) and tap them to attack. Once these attackers are declared, the ability triggers. Even if an opponent destroys one of your other attackers in response to the trigger, the ability remains on the stack. When it resolves, Seasoned Consultant gains +2/+0 until the end of the turn, regardless of whether the other attackers are still on the battlefield or still attacking.

Common Mistakes

A common point of confusion involves creatures that enter the battlefield already attacking, such as those created by certain token-generating effects. These creatures were never 'declared' as attackers, so they do not count toward the requirement of three creatures. You must physically declare three or more creatures as attackers at the start of the combat phase for this ability to function.

When to Play It

This card is most effective in 'Weenie' or 'Tokens' strategies where reaching the three-creature threshold is easy. Since it is a Detective, it also synergizes well with tribal effects that care about its creature type, though its primary role is providing an aggressive power boost for a low mana investment.

Interaction examples

The Power of Three

Esper SentinelOrnithopter of Paradise

If you control Seasoned Consultant, Esper Sentinel, and Ornithopter of Paradise, and you declare all three as attackers, Seasoned Consultant's ability triggers. When it resolves, it becomes a 3/3 creature. This also benefits Esper Sentinel indirectly if you have ways to buff it, but here it specifically ensures the Consultant gets its bonus.

Increasing Tax with the Consultant

Esper Sentinel

While Seasoned Consultant's ability only buffs itself, attacking alongside Esper Sentinel and a third creature ensures the Consultant becomes a 3/3. If you have other spells that move that power to the Sentinel, you can make the opponent pay even more for their noncreature spells.

Removal in Response

Ornithopter of Paradise

Suppose you attack with Seasoned Consultant, Ornithopter of Paradise, and a third creature. Your opponent casts a spell to destroy the Ornithopter of Paradise before the Consultant's trigger resolves. Because you successfully declared three attackers, the Consultant still gets +2/+0 despite the Ornithopter leaving the battlefield.